Apparatus for covering eyeglass-cases.



W. P. DBVINE.

APPARATUS PoR oovBRING BYEGLASS GASES. APPLIOATION FILED HAB. 18, 1998.

Patented Jam?, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

` nwENron WILLIAM I? .DEI/YN@ Lum l ATTBNEYS W. P. DEVINE.

APPARATUS FOB COVBRING EYEGLASS CASES.

urmouxon HLBD MAB. 1a, 190s.

1,@49 Patented Jan. 7,1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a/zsqzzao' Y` 7 WITNESSES: INVENTOR MLM/1MB 17m/WL' i i BY v rf a ATTORNEYS W. P. DEVINB. APPARATUS FOR GOVERING EYEGLASS CASES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 18, 19013.

Patented Jau 7, 1913.

4 SEHEN-SHEET s.

n rronnffrs Y .W. P. DEVINE. APPARATUS FOR GOVBRING EYBGLASS GASES. APPLIOATION FILED Mums, 190e.

Patented Jan.7,1913.

4 suma-snuff 4.

iTEp sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

WILLIAM P. DEVIN, F DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB, TO AMERICAN OPTICAL COMPANY, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSIE,lTS,l A CORPORATION 'OFIAS- APPARATUS FOR COVERINGI-` EYEGLASS-CASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 7, 1913.l

Application filed Haren 18, 1908. Serial Nc. 421,981.

acitizen of the United States, residing at Dorchester, .in the county of Suffolk, State` of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Covering Eyeglass-.Casea of which fthe followingis a specification.

y invention relates to apparatus for and methods of covering spectacle'or eyeglass cases or the like and consists in improved means and an improved method by which this operation can be performed quickly and effectively. l

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

`In the drawings Figure 1 shows an apy paratus embodying one form of my invention and adapted to carry out my methodrg, Fig. 2 shows a spectacle case with -its covering partly applied; Fig. 3 is an outline plan view of a spectacle case covering; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a section taken covering operation;

on an enlarged scale longitudinally through the die on the line 6-6 of. Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a section in elevation taken on the -line 7,-7 of Fig. 5; Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are sections similar to that shown in Fig. 6 illustrating successive steps in the operation of covering an eyeglass case cover; Fig. 11 is a front elevation of an apparatus of modified form for carrying out a subsequent step in the Fig. 1.2 is a plan View of the die and connected parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11, parts of such apparatus being shown in section; Figs. 13 and 14 are sections taken through the die shown in Fig. 12 on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12, illustrating successive steps in the operation of covering the body of the spectacle case; Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the line 15-15 of Fig. 11, showing the spectacle case in position on the die; Figs. 16, 17, 18 and 19 show a` modified form of plunger which may be used in connection with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 when it is desired to use a cement which requires heat; Fig. 16 being a sectional elevation of such. plunger provided with a hollow chamber and with a gas pipe,

Fig. 17 being a horizontal section' on the line 17-17 of Fig. 16; and Figs. 18 and 19 be-' ing respectively front and rear elevations of the sald modified form of plunger.

Referring to the drawings and 4to the embodiment of. my invention which is there illustrated, I have shown (Fig. 1) a form of press, the particular construction of which isfnot material to my invention but which is used as a convenient means for getting the desired pressure between coperating members of the apparatus. This press is provided wit-h a base or bed 1, which is mounted upon any suit-able support as a bench or table, and the upright o-r stalndard 2. Upon the bed 1 is suitably secured the die block 4, which is used in coperation with a movable plunger 5 to press and cement the leather or other covering upon the article chosen,which, in the present instance, is an ordinary spectacle or eye-.glass-case #represented in Fig. 2. The coperating plunger 5 is secured to a vertically moving slide o-r cross head 6, which is mounted in and supported by the upright 2. This plunger is normally retracted to an upper position by the springs 7 but may be forcibly depressed with the application of considerable power, by suitable means 'such as the toggle connected hand lever 8. The under or active face of the upper and movable plunger 5 is shaped accurately to it one side of the article to be covered, while the active face of the die is shaped accurately to tit the opposite side. In the present instance, the ac- ,tive face 10 of the plunger 5 is shaped to fit the generally concave inner face of the spectacle case cover 11 (Fig. 2). The block 4, which is fiXedly secured to the bed, is provided with a depressible die center 13, which latter has an upper face concaved to lit the outer face of the spectacle casecover.

The sheet material for covering the spectacle case is cut into some such shape as isy represented in Fi 3 and the portion 14, which is intended or application to the case cover has applied to its inner surface a coating of cement or other suitable adhesive substance. The covering material usually employed is thin leather, although my invention is neither restricted to the material of the. covering nor the character of the article to be covered. The cover is then laid down up'on the face plate v12 with the cemented side up, the upwardly projecting pins 15 4 (Fig. 3) and quickly and accurately locating the requisite position of the sheet material.

The sheet covering having been positioned, `the spectacle case is fastened to the under face of the plunger 5 by anysuitable'means.

In the present instance, the said plunger is provided at its back side with a pair of pivoted dogs or fingers. 17 (Figs. 1 and 18) *having depending notched ends which are l ressed in and toward the side of the punch y springs at their opposite ends. When the case coverjis pressed over the active face of the plunger, these notched'dogs or iingers snap over the cover hinge as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and automatically retain-the case in position beneath the plunger. With the spectacle case cover held below the plunger as described the plunger is-then depressed by operating the handle 8 and the outer surface of the case cover forced down into firm adherence wit-h the cemented covering lying over the die' center beneath. The die center, which has the ir regular plan outline shown in Fig. 5, has a grooved portion 18 extending between gage.

pins15 into which groove lits the angular side or edge of the casing bottom adjacent the hinge, so thatthe'eover and bottom lie as represented in Figs. 8 to 10, and the covering is also forced int-o adherence with the angular portion of the'hinge.

The die center 13 is vertically slidable in the block 4, so as to be capable of depression from its uppermost position as shown in Fig. 6 to a position shown in Fig. 8, but is normally pressed upward by several relah hand lever 21.

tively strong springs 3, assisted by the springs 19. The ldie center is formed with a. downwardly' projeotinglportion which is cut through to receive the sliding locking rod 20, which latter is slidably mounted in the block 4 and adapted to be moved in either direction by means of the pivoted The lower side of the sliding locking rod is notched at 22, and into this notched portion there normally enters a part 23 of the movable die center when the latter is raised. When the plunger descends, the die seat is depressed into the position shown in Fig. 8, and the hand lever 21 being normally drawn toward the-block 4, by a spring 24, the docking rod 20 immediately slides into the position shown in Fig. 8 where, until again retracted, it holds thedie seat in its depressed posit-ion.

When the die center andthe case cover I are depressed below the upper face 'ofthe block 4, the marginal overlapping of the portion 14 f the sheet coverlng first cause the covering to be stretched ortightly over the outer face ofthe case cover and are then laid up along the edges of the movable plunger 51as represented in Fig.

the plate 25 from the position shown in edges drawn 8, sothat when the plunger is 4allowed to recede, as -it immediately is, these overlapping-edges are left standing upturned. The friction between the cover and the face plate 12, together with the weight of the is provided for this purpose a sliding diel plate 25 mounted to slide from the front toward the rear of the block 4 (Figs. 4 and 5) and adapted to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9. The inner edge ofthe plate is beveled at both sides as'shown at 26 and 26.', and is cut back at 27 (Fig. 5) to conform to the general configuration of the spectacle' case cover. The cut away portion of the plate just receives the body of the plunger 5, so that when the plate is moved toward or to the die center, the plunger can pass through and below the same. It is, however, Vslightly smaller than the corresponding opening of the die, so that in its inward position, it slightly overhangs the edges of the opening in the die7 block 4 throughwhich the plunger passes (see Fig. 9),. p The sliding late has a down turned portion 28 at the ont of the machine by which the operator can move it either inwardly or outwardly, and a stop-pin 29, adapted lto. .abut against a block 29 on the block 4 to limit the inward or rearward movement `of the plate and leave itin the fixed anddefinite position shown in Fig. 9. When, therefore, the plunger is elevated, the operator oves 1 8 to that shown in Fig. 9, this4 movemeit causing the edge of the plate to pass over the upturned edge of the covering material. The handle 2l is then swung outwardly by the operator until the portion 23 of the die center can rise and enter the notch 22 in the lockingmember 20, this action permitting the die center 'to rise tothe position shown in Fig. 9. `This movement forces the flap of the covering against the slightlyV overlying edge of the die plate 25 and causes it to turn in all around as represented in Fig. 9 when the die center'has reachedits upper limit of movement. In order to allow the center to rise far enough, while preventing itsrising so'far as to cut or mar the flap cover. by too great pressure against the over-j lying edge of the die plate, the center is provided with the depending threaded shank 9 on which are mounted the ywasher 30 and check nut 31. The washer is adof the case cover and lleaving the covering'A material firmly applied to the case cover as represented in F1g. 2. The plunger being then again elevated and the plate 25 being pulled back to its original position, the

handle 21 is swung outwardly to permit the rise of the center, and the spectacle case with the covering material applied to the cover is withdrawn from the machine for the next step of the operation. When the plunger with the attached case descends lin the first instance, the edge of the case vstrikes the beveled tip of each gage pin v15. These pins project through an extension on the depressible die 13 and 'are carried upon the bar 32, the latter normally pressed upon against the under side of such extension by the springs 19. When the pins are engaged by the case' the springs 19 yield and permit the depression of the pins flush with the surface of the depressible die, so that when the material is stretched or drawn over the cover there is no danger of its being torn through linterference with the gage pins. The springs 19, however, are relatively Weak so that they are ineffective to eject the case from the die and the pins with the bar 32 remain depressed so long as the case is positioned in the die.

For covering the body of the case, there is provided a die block 34 (Figs..1l and 12) v andra punch or plunger 35, both of which may be substituted respectivelyfor the block i 4 and the plunger 5 in the press shown in Fig. 1, or there may be provided a separate press exclusively for the said block 34 and plunger 35, in which the second step of the operation may be carried out. The die block 34 is shown mounted on a base plate 12. The plunger 35 is provided with an active face shaped to conform to the inside of the case body, as isr best shown in Figs. 13 and 15. The die block'is provided with the seat plate 36 (Figs. 13 to 15) the active or upper face of which is shaped to conform to the exterior of the case body, and surrounding the seat plate is the marginal die mem- V ber or plate 37, which is socut or formed as to properly receive but fit about the body of the case. With the case covered to the eX- tent described in the first step of the operation, the portion of the covering, which is to underlie the body of the case, is covered with an adhesive coating and the operator then places it bottom down' (Fig. 15) in the die. Bylforeing the case into the depressionwithin the marginal member 37 the mar nal edges of the covering are callsed to e drawn or wiped up and over the sides ofthe wiping edge for engagement with the upturned edges of the leather or other coverlng material. These plates are fa'tened to the opposite upturned ends of t e slides 40, which latter are normally drawn together by the spring 41. Preparatory to placing the first eye glass case in the die the voperator pushes in a sliding wedge rodl42, which latter has an upturned end 43l directly at the front of the die and suitably formed inclines (Fig. 1,2) beneath the die for engagement with the slides 40 so that when the wedge is pushed in the slides are separated, causing the-wiping plates 39 to retract into the position shown in Fig. 14. After the case has pate been inserted in the die with the cover turned forward on its hinge in order to give the necessary looseness at the back of the hinge, the cover is thrown back and the Wedge 42 is retracted by the operator allowing the spring to. draw the wiping plates 39 toward each other causing them to advance and lie in the projecting marginal edges of the leather, as represented in Fig. 13, this movement also serving to wipe the leather up smoothly and tightly at the ends. Abutments formed upon the plate 37 limit the inward movement of the Wipers and bring them to rest where desired.

Before describing the further operation of the parts which serve to fold the material overvthe sides of the body or pocket of the case, I will describe the parts which serve to fold the material over the front or.lip of the case or pocket.

As shownin Figs. l2 and 15, a plate 46 is arranged to slide upon the upper face of the plate 37. This die plate is attached by suitable means to the upturned edges of two slides 47 which are arranged to slide in grooves 48 in the die plate 34. These slides are normallyl pushed in the direction away from the lip of the case by suitable springs 49-49. The edge ofthe die plate 46 nearest the lip is beveled or-undercut so las to conform approximately in shape to the outside of the lip. By means of lever 50 pivoted at 51d and working in a depression 46 in the die plate, the die plate may be pushed against the lip so as to fold down the material upon the outside of the lip. 'This operation is performed preferably after the material has been folded over the ends of the pocketas just described. As the short arm of the lever is thrown around until it assumes a position substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the depression 46 in which it operates, the die plate 46 will remain in contact with the lip until the operator-again .throwsback the lever. A flat spring 52 may be attached at its center to the die plate 34 and so arranged that its end's press upon the slides 47. The pressure of this sprin will cause the die plate 46 to press downw r'dly upon the lip asit rides up against the lip. The plunger 35 is.provided with a shoe 53, pivoted at 54, and adapted to `be swung forward by a lever 55. The forward edge of this shoe is adapted to fit between the bottom of the pocket and the inside of the lip. lThe. plunger is furthermore provided with a stepped extension 56 just above the front of the shoe. The purpose of this Iwill be hereafter Yex lained. y

T he description of the operation of the various parts will now be continued. After the material has been wiped tightly over the ends as already explained, the opera- .tor iirstwipes 'up by hand the tabs X X of the material upon ,the -lips andV then by v means vof lever 50 draws the beveled edge -of the sliding die plate 46 against the out-v side of the lip of the pocket. The flat spring 52 will, as already explained, draw v the beveled edge downward upon the lip, so that such downward movment, in'combinapath. vThe plunger, however, -is provided with an arm 44 (shown in Fig. 15) having a beveled end 45; this arm passes through an aperture in the rear end of the wedge rod 42, and before the plunger reaches the wiper platesthe beveled end of the arm engages the wedge rod and throws it inwardly into theposition so that the wiper plates are-retracted out of the path of the plunger. The

'wiper plates have pressed the material so closely against the metal edges of the pocket that vthe material remains in the folded posi-l tion for a suiiilcient length of time after the removal of the wiper plates to remain in the path of thev plunger and be pressed by it firmly upon the inside of the case. As Jthe pun'ch enters'the pocket, thestepped extension 56 presses upon the top of the inner edge of the sliding die plate 46. The operator now throws forward the shoe by means of the lever 55, thus causing it to enter the y space beneath the lip of thepocket, andto fold under the material and ress the same ggainst the under side of sai lip. con.

l be properly siderable pressure is exerted upon the hand 'lever 55, the stepped extension 56- is arranged upon the plunger .in order to preventa straining or distortion of the lipof the sliding die plate 46. Thev material has now been'cemented upon the case. In ordeal to release the case, the shoe 53 is thrownv back by means of the lever 55, thus permit-1 V ting the plunger to be raised. By means of the lever 50 the sliding die plate 46 is withdrawn from the case; the covered case may thereupon be` removed from'thev die. The

machine is now ready for the covering of another case.

As some cementing material may be aput any one skilled in the art vplied to metal only'under the influence of'. heat, I have shown 4in Figs. 16 to 19 a modi- The plunger 5 is provided dinary burner by means of any suitable v iexible connection. Fig. 18 shows a rear viewv with dogs 17 in position. Fig. 19 shows a front view of the plunger.

While the invent-ionhas been described in connection with its application to the covering of eye glass cases, it will be understood that with slight modification it maybe employed in connection with the covering of other articles. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction or the form or relative arrangement of parts described, but that extensive modifications may bemade therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claiml as my invention:

1. A machine orcovering eye-glass cases or the like comprising a plunger, a die, movable means -to engage the marginaledges of the covering and turn them under the plunger, `,and means-actuated by said plunger to Aretract said movable means in advance of the depression of said plunger.

v2. A machine for covering eye-glass cases or the like comprising a plunger, adie, movable means to engage the marginal edges of the covering and turn them under theA plunger, and means attached to said plunger and adapted to retract said movable means in 'advance of said die and as said die is depressed.

3. A machine for covering eye-glass cases or the like comprising a plunger, a die, a pair of wiping members adapted to overlie the edges of .the die and engage the coverdie plate provided with an undercut edge` ing material thereat, means cooperating and adapted to be slid in a plane crossing 20 with said plunger and adapted to retract the plunger axis and toward the free edge said wiping members in advance of said die of the lip so as to bring said undercut edge and as said die is depressed, and manual against said lip and to both stretch and means to restore said members to their overpress the covering material thereon, and

lying position. means for drawing` said plate at an angle to 2.5

4. A machine for covering eye-glass cases its plane of slide 4and toward the case as or the like, comprising a plunger, a die, a said undercut edge comes in contactwth die' plate slidable in a plane crossing the said lip. y l plunger axis and provided with an undercut In witness whereof I have hereunto subedge adapted to engage the lip of the case, scribed my name, this 14th day of March, 30

and means 'for drawing said plate at an 1908, in the presence of two subscribing witangle to its plane of slide and toward the nesses.

case as said under cut edge comes in con` l WILLIAM P. DEVINE. tact with said lip. Witnesses:

5. A' machine for coveringl eye-glass cases GEO. V. RAsMUssEN,

or the like comprising a plunger, a die, a FRITZ v. BRIESEN. 

